According to a report from WOFL Fox 35, several hundred Walt Disney World Cast Members are threatening to leave their union, Teamsters Local 385.
Costumed character performers are citing horrible representation and more than 600 of them have signed a petition saying that they would like to leave the union.
Stephen Davidson, a union member, says of the Teamsters, “I feel abandoned down here, like Florida doesn’t matter, Orlando doesn’t matter.”
Adding, “I feel that our local union is giving Disney everything they want and allowing them to push these members around and they’ve been doing it for quite some time. I mean, when Disney tells your local union that these people are no longer going to be members, that they have to leave their jobs, why would you want to be in that local?”
Complaints center around alleged poor ethics and lack of representation by union leaders.
Teamster’s President James Hoffa, Jr. traveled to Orlando last weekend to hold a hearing regarding the matter. Davidson says that it was “vindication” for leaders to finally address their issues. He’s hopeful that change will be coming.
“I would love to see them step in, place our local under trusteeship and get it cleaned up and one day hold a fair election for the members, and they can get someone they can be proud of to run this once great local”
So far, Disney is standing by the collective bargaining agreement that took place with the union. Representatives at the Teamster’s corporate office would not comment on what they called “ongoing procedures” and the local office did not respond to Fox 35.
Source: WOFL Fox 35
